Chapter 5

Tremor

The inside of Facility Epsilon seemed to be structured closer to modern tech campus than a facility for superhumans, the first floor a wide common area that already had some makeshift triage stations set up as well as waiting staff to aid the Candidates. Hector gave Daniela a light nudge and indicated with his chin to the closest Facility staff member who was already making a line to the group when they saw Caitlin in Daniela’s arms. The staff member called for a gurney which Daniela lowered Cait onto.

“What happened?” asked a staff member, who’s name badge read Oscar.

“She’s been unconscious for awhile, we think she might have overexerted herself.” Daniela replied.

Oscar was already setting up an IV and retrieved a tablet, a small light glowed softly over Caitlin before some information displayed that Oscar browsed through. “Doesn’t look to be anything critical thankfully, she should be good to go looks like she has a higher metabolic rate than normal but nothing we can’t handle.”

“Can we stay with her?” Hector asked.

“Looks like you could use your own check-up there bud.” Oscar said looking at Hectors injured arms. “Nothing that some omni-gel won’t be able to take care of though, you ever been treated with it before?” Oscar asked as he put on a pair of latex gloves and retrieved a tube containing a milky blue liquid on the inside.

Hector shook his head “No sir”

“Alrighty well let's get rid of these sleeves here” Oscar said taking surgery sheers to Hectors arms. “Don’t worry about the uniform we can get you a replacement before you guys continue.” He began liberally smearing the gel on Hectors arms which was pleasantly cool against his skin. After the initial contact there was a numbing sensation and the lingering pain Hector had been fighting through went from fiery to dull hum.

“Wow, that feels a lot better” Hector said

Oscar gave a smile “Let that sit for a few more minutes and then you can wash your arms, bathrooms are over to the right you can’t miss them.” he said with a quick point of his index finger. “ I’m going to go check on the other Candidates but I’ll be back shortly alright?”

“Sounds good, thank you” Daniela said.

After Oscar left, the gang found some folding chairs being given out and made themselves a small spot near Caitlins triage. The other candidates around them all seemed to be keeping to themselves mostly and there was a low buzz of conversation filling the facility.

“What happens now?” Jack asked the group, with nothing better to do he was idly playing with some wooden tongue depressors that he had found at a table by Caitlins bedside.

“Looks like they’re giving us a chance to recover” Daniela said looking over to Caitlin with a sympathetic glance “Though I wonder what else they could be testing us on at this point?”

“Maybe we’ll have to fight each other again” TJ said, looking around at the other Alphas like the team was going to be jumped. “They sure wanted some blood drawn before this point.”

“Yeah I guess, but it doesn’t add up. The situation had to be under some kind of control, I mean think about how quickly those drones were deployed that were freezing people in place” Hector said.

Daniela raised a finger “Actually they weren’t being frozen, I’m pretty sure that was zero-point energy being used out there. Doc Spectre and his company pretty much handle all of the Guardians tech”

“You know a lot about this stuff huh?” Jack said as he balanced another depressor on the tip of his finger.

Daniela smiled “Yeah I get kind of obsessed with things sometimes and my parents made me do a lot of studying when I prepped for the trials. Can’t say it hasn’t come in handy though!”

Hector arched his back as he stretched in his chair “Man now I feel like I’m behind, I didn’t study or nothing I just sorta...showed up” he said smiling cheekily “Guess I got lucky with you guys as my team huh?”

“Let's hope we stay together” TJ said crossing his arms “Until we get some kind of official word, we’re still in our trial you know?”

Jacked nodded “Not that I like to agree with grumpy pants here but he’s right.”

A small groan from Caitlin drew their attention, Daniela got up to check on her. Caitlins eyes flickered open and closed a few times and she was trying to sit up. Daniela looked to Jack and TJ “Go see if you can find Oscar.”

Jack gave an okay with his hand before grimacing in pain “Crapppp that’s still injured” The others gave him a look “Right, Oscar, find him.” he said and took off into the crowd.

Hector stood on the opposite side of Caitlins bed from Daniela. “Hey Cait, you feeling alright? Maybe lay down until we can get someone to check you.”

Caitlin rubbed at her eyes, forcing herself into an upright position even after Danielas protesting body langauge. “I think I’ll be okay Hero, I just had a pretty good nap after all.” she said giving an impish grin

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Hector shook his head “You really had some of us worried”

Cait waved it off with her hand “Nah, you don’t have to worry too much. Making that bridge is really what did me in. It’s really hard to grow that much plant life without getting really exhausted afterwards.”

“Well, you’re already looking a lot better”

“I’m feeling a lot better, though I could definitely use a snack. Is there anything to eat around here?” Caitlin said looking at the various medical odds and ends around her. Daniela smiled with an exasperated expression.

Jack and TJ returned with Oscar, the latter checking Caitlins vitals on his tablet “Well, we might want to give you another look over later but I think you’ll live” he said smiling.

Caitlin laughed “Thanks for taking care of me, and I don’t want to sound ungrateful but is there any food anywhere?”

Oscar nodded “Here I have some granola bars if that’s okay? There should be some catering coming soon” he added, putting a few bars by Caitlins stand. She eagerly tore at the first wrapper and began munching with vigor.

A chime sounded from the Facilities speakers and Artemis voice spoke. A hologram of her avatar appeared floating above the candidates, looking at them with kind eyes.

Jack nudged TJ “Check it that looks like the A.I. from our wrist things.”

[Congratulations and hello Candidates, I am Artemis and I am the Guardian sanctioned A.I. of facility Epsilon] she walked on an invisible plane, with a streak of light accompanying each of her movements and waning into a short trail.

[Our Facility Director, Decibel would like to tell you about the next stage in your trial if you would draw your attention behind me.]

From behind Artemis’ avatar a woman floated down from an upper terrace, a vibrational hum emanating from her that shook the air. Decibel had worn her most up to date outfit, a tight fitting uniform padded with armor plating in shades of blue, black, and gold. Hanging off of her hip was a blue and gold sash that seemed to move with it’s own independent grace. She cleared her throat and focused on projecting her sound waves to fill the entire space.

“Alright Candidates, I know you all can hear me and I don’t like repeating myself so listen up.” she said standing straight as she surveyed the room. “Whether you were part of the one hundred who made it here, or whether you’ll soon be leaving us, I want you to be proud of what you have accomplished to this point. From here forward, the real work is about to begin.”

There was a small wave of whispers from the crowd but with a crisp clear of Decibels throat was enough to bring them back to attention.

“Two hours from now we are going to start individual evaluations, during which we will decide if you are fit to go from Candidates to Cadets. To those of you who did not pass the second stage, there are still other oppurtunities open to you that we can discuss with your families. For now all of you can rest, eat, and recover. Those who did not pass there will be shuttles provided back to the surface. When Artemis calls your name you will head to your designated evaluation room which will be on this floor. That's all for now, and I look forward to seeing who here will be part of our program after this day. Thank you.”

The whispers rose until it was closer to a dull roar as Decibel turned and began conversing with some of the facility staff. Shortly after large tables of food where wheeled out and a small buffet line began to form as the Candidates lined up for a meal. Hector and his team had made themselves comfortable around Caitlins space and were all talking to themselves, catching the eye of Decibel as she made her way back to the command center.

After a quick trip back up the elevator she caught Dr.Belics gaze as she settled into her chair. “How’d I do?”

Dr. Belic shrugged “Not bad, I mean it wasn’t GREAT but it wasn’t bad”

Decibel let out a huff “Well next time you can give the speech then” she said snarkily.

“How are they looking? The kids.”

“Tired and stressed, some are looking better than others.”

[Decibel, I have a priority one call coming through on the emergency line]

Decibel sat up as and paced to her own station “Send it through.”

A video screen displayed in front of her showing what looked to be a destroyed and damaged command center not unlike her own. A man wearing a support staff uniform and bleeding badly from one shoulder displayed on the screen. “H-hello? This Duncan from the ancillary station on the surface do you read?” he was shouting over large crashes and gunfire.

“This is Decibel from Epsilon what’s wrong Duncan?” she asked, her hands gripping her desk white knuckled.

“We’re under atta-”

The screen went dark and displayed a large TRANSMISSION LOST image, Dr.Belic looked with a panicked expression to Decibel. Several other warnings and messages began to sound as Decibel called out to Artemis.

“Artemis, initiate Lockdown protocols NOW!"